Omaha daily bee., 1887-11-12

with this tier The woodwork Of the instrl- |
ment Of destruction is painted, or rather
stained, very dull reddish brown, and as
seen by the dim light of the gas Jets was any
thing but pleasant to look upon. The weird
effect was heightened by the little sentry box
which is located just west Of the
trap. In this is stationed the man who re-
ally is the executioner. Into this box extends
a rope. AT the given signal the unknown
man inside cuts the rope with brand new
and especially sharpened chisel of wide di-
mensions by striking the chisel heavy blow
with mallet. Down goes the trap, dis
tance of six feet and at the same time the
murderers are launched into eternity.
SCENES ABOUT THE JAIL.
Some time after midnight Parsons COM
planned that the hum of conversation in
the iailcr's Office annoyed him and
prevented him from sleeping The
wooden door which hangs on the Office side
of the heavy bar of the inner door was
closed, and the Texas anarchist dropped into
an uneasy slumber. In the Office
busy crowd of reporters stood writing
at the high desks or lounged
| about talking with the deputies. Occasion
| ally heavy step on the iron stairs outside,
| and the storm door was opened, revealing
candidate for admission to all the horrors pro-
| vided for the possessOrs of passes. From
| within the lawyers cage came the sharp me-
talic click of the associated press instrument
arranged for gathering the incidents of the
| night. Along the otherwise silent corridors
| sounded the slow regular tramp
| of the deputies composing the death watch,
| to and fro ceaselessly in front of the cell
| doors in which were the four forfeited lives
| On the street squad of policemen paraded
! their beats, and all who had no business in
the neighborhood were peremptorily ordered
| to 'Move on''
THE JAIL PROPER
occupies the Illinois street front Of building
| while that part used by the criminal cenrt
| fronts on Michigan street On the latter
| front is the main entrance through which all
| who enter must pass. This opening, Is
| guarded by a heavy double iron door which
| is kept closed and fastened by
| a paddock and chain. Immediately
| within the door stand two trusty
| policemen, armed with breech loading rifles
and carrying thirty-eight rounds each in
convenient cartridge box. step sounds in
the outer vestibule and from the watchful
seutries comes the stern demand "Who
comes therel" A voice from the outside re-
spends, the paddock opens, the chain rattles
and the doors slide apart
few inches and survey is made by
the guards of individuals applying for admis-
sion. If his credentials are satisfactory the
doors are opened sufficiently for him to pass
in. The Jail proper is reached by crossing
narrow court, dismal and cold, in the dark
ness. In this part Of the building special
preparations have been made for the reception
| of unwelcome callers. Now and then a
louder voice than common floats out from the
cell room, where some ordinary prisoner has
walked with a cry, but from the cells of the
condemned comes only murmurs of conver-
sation between the guards and their ward.
About l o'clock, while these were
comparative silence, the occupants of the
sheriffs Office were startled by crash and
bang from the northern corridor. 1t was
nothing only the sheriff and few of tho Of
ticers experimenting with the scaffold, and
testing it and the ropes. A
Spies stood at the door of his
cell smoking and talking through the bars
with his guard. Between and the rumble
of wheels outside penetrated the thick walls
and wagon drove up and un-
loaded four cofins-one for Spies,
one for Engel, one for Fischer,
and one for Parsons. At $3.50 all were asleep.
About Fielden woke, and after refreahing
himself with draught of water relapsed into
slumber. Not many minutes from 6 o'clock
came daylight, cold and pitiless as the law
about to be avenged, and hustle different
from that of the night invaded the seclusion
of the previous
THE DAY OF THE HANGING
had arrived. Six o'clock came and the
rumbling of wagons, the blowing of whistles
and the ringing of bells told that people out
side We're astir but the anarchists slept on.
1t was just fifteen minutes TOT o'clock
when Engel awoke. Within the next ten min
utes his three doomed companions opened
their eyes. They tumbled out of their cots
and hastily dressed themselves No CONVEX
sation took place between the anarchists and
the guards. Spies and Parsons simply bade
them good bye and in a few minutes the dep
uties emerged from the cell ROOM They
were relieved by others. Fischer was the
first one to emerge from his cell, accompan-
led by two deputies. He stepped over to the
plain iron sink and took good
wash. His every movement was
closely watched. Spies next per-
formed his ablutions, and seemed to enjoy
them, as he fingered long at the sink. He
carefully cleaned his teeth and gargled his
throat. Old man Engel followed the
young anarchist, and the last
at the wash was Parsons.
AT BREAKFAST.
At 30 two walters from Martell's restau-
ant brought to the pris oners their breakfast.
The edibles were carried in q large new
clothes basket and the linen and tableware
looked bright and clear.
Rev. DR.. Bolton arrived at 7:45 and after
depositing his satchel on a chair and hanging
up his overcoat in the Jail Office, passed into
the cell ROOM Passing first into Parsons cell
he attempted to engage the doomed Texan in
religious conversation. Parsons had not yet
finished his breakfast. What passed between
them was not divulged In the meantime
Spies had called for paper and envelope, and
they were furnished him. He began writ
ing. After a stay Of eighteen min
utes in Parsons cell, Dr. Bolton
emerged and walking to Spies door stood and
looking at that individual, who glanced at
the clergyman and continued his writing DIR.
J Bolton remained standing in front of Spies
two or three minutes, but receiving no recog-
milton he walked away.
Writing materials were furnished to Par
, sons and Fischer who Immediately set about
preparing statements. Engel made no requests
for pen or paper, but sat stOlidly on his bed